Fuse device.



A. E. SIMMONS. 4

FUSE DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10. 1913.

1,074,218, j 4 v Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

WWW /\-E- EIMMUNE,

@W 4 mm ALBERT IE. SIMMONS, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

FUSE DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

Application filed February 10, 1913. Serial N 0. 747,511.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. SIMMoNs a citizen of the United States, residing at Sacramento, in the county of Sacramento and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuse Devices, of which the following is a specification. 1 v

My invention relates .to safety fuses for electric circuits.

An important object of this invention is to provide a fuse of the above mentioned character, so constructed that when the same is blown or becomes inoperative a signal device will automatically be'brought into position to be observed from the exterior of the shell or casing of the fuse.

A further object of my invention is to provide a fuse of the above mentioned character, which is so. constructed that the fuse wire may be readily removed so that a fuse wire of a different cross-sectional area may be substituted therefor, whereby the fuse may be used in circuits having currents of different voltage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fuse of the above mentioned character, the parts of which may be easily and quickly disconnected and assembled by a novice.

A further object of my invention is to improve the construction of fuses generally, with a View of simplifying their construction and rendering them more durable and a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the entire fuse. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the lower end of the fuse, the same being turned around to be disposed at a right angle to the position that it occupies v in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a plan view of'the device, and, Fig. 5 is a bottom plan of the same.

' In the drawings, wherein is illustrated "a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 6 designates a sub 'stantlally vertic ally arranged shell or casing, which 13 formed of fiberf or any suitable insulating material; Surrounding the upper end of the shell or casing 6 is a metallic conductor cap 7, which is preferably formed of brass or copper. This conductor cap is held upon the shell or casing 6 by any suitable means. The metallic conductor cap 7 is provided at its upper end with a screw-threaded opening 8, to receive a screw-threaded extension 9 formed upon a head 10. The head 10 and. extension 9 are preferably formed of brass or copper. Depending from the extension 9 and preferably formed integral therewith is a tube 11, carrying a clamping screw 12, as shown.

Surrounding the lower end of the shell or casing 6 is a metallic conductor'sleeve 13, which is preferably formed of copper or brass and is securely held upon the shell or casing 6 by any suitable means. Disposed within the lower end of the sleeve 13 which extends for a considerable distance beyond the end of the shell or casing 6, is a metallic cap including a cylindrical body portion 14 and an inner conical portion 15, preferably cast integral therewith. The body portion 14 is preferably soldered or otherwise se-' cured to the conductor sleeve 13. The cylindrical sleeve or body portion 14 and conical portion 15 are preferably formed of co per or brass.

ormed through the contracted end of the conical inner portion 15 is an opening 16, for receiving a reciprocatory si al rod 17, having its lower end screw-t eaded, as shown "at 18., The screw-threads 18 do not howeve'r have screw-threaded engagement with the wall of the opening 16, the rod 17 being free to drop when released. Connected with the upper end of the rod 17 is an enlarged tubular socket 19, carrying a clamping, screw 20. The rod 17 and tubular socket 19- are preferably formed of copper or brass. The-socket 19 is much larger in diameter than the opening 16,

whereby the same serves as a stop to limit the downward movement of the signal rod 17. The numeral 21 designates alocking plate or nut, having a'screw-threaded opening formed therethrough to receive the screw-threaded portion 18 of the signal rod u 17. The locking plate or nut 21 is provided preferably at ametrical points with extensions or cars 22, to fit within the lower forked end of a reciprocatory catch or latch 23. This catch or latch is mounted to move within a guide 24, rigidly mounted upon the conductor sleeve 13. The plate or nut 21 is casing 25 receives a, tube 26 preferably formed of asbestos. Extending through the asbestos tube 26 is a fuse wire 27, the ends of which extend into the tube 11 and the tubular socket 19, the same being'clamped therein by the screws 12 and 20 respectively. The fuse device is connected with the circuit in the ordinary manner, the clam contacts (not shown) engaging the con uctor cap 7 and the conductor sleeve 13. When the voltage of the current exceeds a predetermined degree, the fuse wire 27 will melt, whereby the connection is broken between the tube 11 and the socket 19. When this is done the circuit is of course opened and the signal rod together with the plate or nut 21 dropped to their outer position, thus indicating that the fuse has been blown. It is obvious that by removing'the head 10, the interior elements may be quickly and easily removed from the main shell or casing 6. In this manner the fusewire 27 may be removed so that another fuse wire having a different cross-sectional area may be substituted therefor or a second fuse wire substituted for the fuse wire which has melted. A particular advantage gained by my construction, is that upon inserting the interior elements in the main shell or casing 6, the rod 17 will be automatically guided by the conical portion 15, through the opening 18. This enables any one notwithstanding how unfamiliar he may be with the operation of a fuse, to quickly and easily remove and insert the interior elements thereof in place. When the fuse wire 27 is connected with the tube 11 and socket 19, the plate or nut 21 is screwed up so that the same has firm engagement with the conductor sleeve .13, thus serving to prevent accidental rotation of the head 10 and associated elements, the catch or latch 23 in turn preventing the accidental rotation of the plate or nut 21. Attention is called to the fact that although the catch or latch 23 will prevent the improper rotation of the plate or nut 21, the same will notpr'event the plate or nut from dropping, when the fuse wire melts.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described, is

to betaken as a preferred example of the same, and that certain changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts ma be resorted to without departing from t espirit of the invention or the -scope,of the subjoined claims.

Having thus fully described my invention,

. I claim cally arranged outer casing formed of insulating-material, metallic conductor elements connected with the upper and lower ends of the outer casing, a fuse wire disposed within the outer casing, means electrically connecting the fuse wire with the upper metallic conductor element, a gravity operated rod connected with the lower end of the fuse wire, means electrically connecting the gravity operated rod with the lower metallic conductor element, and a cap disposed exteriorly of and adjacent the lower end of the outer casing and detachably connected with the gravity operated rod to drop with the same when it is released. I

2. A fuse device of the character described, comprising a substantially verti cally arranged outer casing'formed of insulating material, metallic conductor elements connected with the upper and lower ated rod to drop with the same, and means to lock the cap against rotation and permit the same to freely drop. V.

3. A fuse device of the character described, comprising a main shell formed of insulating material, metallic sleeves carried by themainshell, a removable head connected .with one of the conductor sleeves, a tube connected with the conductor ends of the outer casing, a fuse wire disremovable head, a fuse wire adapted to have one end thereof inserted'within the tube,

clamping means to securely hold the end of the fuse wirewithin the tube, a reciprocatory signal rod provided at its inner end with an enlarged socket to receive the other i end of the fuse wire,means to clamp .such end of the fuse wire within the socket, and a cap connected with one conductor sleeve and including an apertured conical apertured inner portion.

4/ In a fuse device of the character described, a main shell formed of insulating material, upper and lower metallic conductor sleeves carried thereby, a cap connected with the lower conductor sleeve including an innernapertured conical portion decreasing in diameter downwardly, a reciprocatory rod provided at its upper end with a socket and having its lower end screwthreaded, a vnut mounted upon the screwthreaded portion of the reciprocatory rod and provided with a laterally extending'finger, a latch to engage with the finger, a fuse wire having itslower end extending into the socket, means to clamp the fuse wire within the socket, a head removably connected with the upper metallic conductor sleeve, a, tube connected with the head and receiving the upper end of the fuse wire, and means for clampin the upper end ofthe fuse wire within the sleeve. 5. In a fuse device of the character described, a substantially vertically arranged outer casing formed of insulating material, metallic conductor elements connected with the upper and lower ends of the outer casing, a tapered metallic shell disposed adjacent the lower end of the outer casing, decreasing in width downwardly, apertured at its lower end, and electrically connected with the lower metallic conductor element,

a fuse wire mounted within the outer casing, a cap detachably connected with the upper end of the outer casing, means connecting the fuse wire with the cap, and a gravity operated rod havin its lower end mounted to reciprocate within the .apertured end of the tapered shell and its upper end connected with the fuse wire, whereby upon the melting of the fuse wire the gravity'operated rod will automatically drop to extend for; a considerable distance below the outer casing.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

C. H. S. BIDWELL, ISABELL SIMMONS. 

